Nearby Sharing is kinda built into Windows 11, but honestly, a lot of folks don’t even realize it exists. It’s supposed to make sending files or links between your devices way faster than emailing yourself or messing around with flash drives. But, for some reason, it’s not super obvious how to turn it on or use it — it’s like Windows hides it on purpose or something. If you’ve been struggling with bulky sharing methods or just want a quick way to move stuff around without the fuss, this guide will walk through how to get Nearby Sharing up and running. Basically, once it’s set up, you can share files, webpages, or whatever with a couple of clicks. It’s pretty neat once you get the hang of it, especially if you work on multiple Windows PCs or want to pass files in a pinch. Expect a mix of straightforward steps and some “wait, that’s it?” moments.
How to Use Nearby Sharing on Windows 11
Setup: Make sure your devices are connected and ready
Before jumping in, both your main and secondary PC need to be on the same WiFi network, and Bluetooth should be enabled. Yeah, Bluetooth. Windows uses it to discover nearby devices. Also, make sure your Windows 11 is updated — sometimes, older versions don’t play nice with features like this. You might also want to check your privacy settings: go to Settings > Privacy & security > Nearby sharing and ensure it’s not turned off there. On some setups, if Nearby Sharing isn’t enabled, the whole thing just won’t work, and you’ll be left scratching your head.
Turning on Nearby Sharing manually
Hit Settings, then go to System, and find Nearby Sharing. Usually, it’s right there on the right or under Sharing options. On some machines, you might need to toggle it on, select who can share with you — pick My Devices Only if you want a bit more security, or Everyone Nearby if you’re sharing across multiple devices without logging into the same account. Honestly, sometimes toggling it off and back on helps, especially after a reboot, because, of course, Windows likes to make this complicated.
Sharing Files in Windows 11
Once the feature’s enabled, sharing a file is pretty simple, but it’s not super obvious at first. Right-click on the file you want, choose Share, then look for your secondary PC or device listed under Nearby Sharing. If it doesn’t show up immediately, give it a second or try toggling Bluetooth or WiFi. When you see your device, click it, and a prompt will appear on the receiver side asking you to Save or decline — kind of slow, but it works.
Sharing Webpages with Nearby Sharing
This one needs Microsoft Edge, which is probably the default browser anyway. Open the webpage you want, right-click somewhere on the page, and pick Share. Then, select Nearby Sharing from the list of options in the share menu. In the Windows share sheet that pops up, find your device, click it, and on the receiving end, tap Open. Not sure why, but sometimes the webpage opens instantly, other times it waits a little longer or needs a refresh. It’s a bit flaky but usually works if the devices see each other first.
And if you’re wondering about one device not showing up, check your network settings or restart the Bluetooth/WiFi toggle. Windows loves to do weird things when it’s feeling stubborn. Also, on some setups, enabling “Let my device be discoverable” in Bluetooth settings helps a lot — yes, it’s weird, but that’s Windows for you.
This whole process can be a little tedious to set up at first, but once it’s done, sharing files or links feels a lot less like pulling teeth. Not perfect, but definitely quicker than dragging files or emailing links around.
It’s kind of funny how simple this could be if Windows just made it clearer, but hey, it’s better than nothing.